Removal of N-nitrosodimethylamine for Potable Reuse: Reverse Osmosis Treatment and Monitoring Technologies

Abstract

For the protection of public health, robust quality assurance and quality control are critical elements in wastewater treatment for potable water reuse. Reverse osmosis (RO) membrane technology is a powerful wastewater treatment process that results in the removal of most contaminants. However, the efficacy of using conventional RO membranes for the removal of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), which is a probable human carcinogen, is often low and highly variable due to NDMA’s small molecular size and uncharged characteristics. Moreover, the credibility of RO membranes for NDMA removal is very low due to the lack of technologies for monitoring membrane integrity for continuous assurance. To enhance confidence in water treatment systems for potable reuse, it is important to develop new RO membranes to achieve high removal of NDMA. Additionally, the ability to continuously monitor NDMA concentrations in RO permeate is needed to ensure the safety of recycled water and establish credibility in RO treatment. This chapter provides an overview of recent studies focusing on RO membrane and analytical techniques for the enhanced removal and monitoring of NDMA for potable reuse.